Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-02-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Changes About to be Made In the Treas
ury Department-The Presidents
Second State Dinner.
William Walter Phelps Gives a Banquet in
Honor of Hiscock's Election to the
United States Senate.
-,orresnondence of the Gazette.

Correspondence of the Gazette.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Some very i'm
pCrtant changes are about to be made in
the Treasury Department. Secretary
Manning, it will be remembered, rendered
his resignation at the time of his illness,
and although the resignation is still in
the hands of the President and has not
been acted upon, Mr.. Manning has an
nounCed bis intention of withdrawing
from the cabinet. Treasurer Jor-
don has also rendered his resig-
nation and asked tnat it receive
immediate action. though he may posi-
bly, continue in ofiice until the adjourn
ment of Congress. Mr.. Manning will
fill the position of President, and Mr.
Jordan that of Vice President of the
"New Western National Bank of New
York City," which will begin business on
May l. Applications for more than ST.,
400, 900 CT stock in the bank have been
received, but only So, 100000 will be &c
cepted.
The second state dinner of the season
was given by the President and Mrs.
Cleveland in honor of the diplomatic
corps on Thursday evening last The
representatives of twenty three of the
thirty friendly nations usually repre-
scented attended in full court costume
Mrs. Cleveland had been especially inter-
csted in both the arrangements and the
personnel of the party invited to meet
them, and the state apartments were
richly decorated with flowers. The east
room, where the guests met Mrs. Cleve-
land was transformed into bower.
The recent passage of the Mexican PEN
sion bill will necessitate the employment
OF $50 additional clerks in the Pension
Office. Commissioner Black is preparing
for the trying ordeal, and says that he
will endeavor to complete the eXamiua-
ton of the $4,000 applications from this
source before the expiration of the pres
ent fiscal year. Although the additional
clerical force which is TO be appointed
will DE required but few months, apple
cations for appointment are being re-
ceived daily, and the Commissioner
thinks that there will be no fewer than
5000 applications upon file by the time of
making appointment arrives
The War Department has of late been
engaged in collecting information con-
corning the strength OF the militia force
of the United States, and the reports
which have been received from the adju-
tant-generals of the various states are
very encouraging. The reports for the past
year show an increase Of 10000 in the
organized branch of the militia force.
There are al the present time over a.,
900 militiamen in state of thorough or
ganiZation, and over 200, 900 men avail
able for military service.
One of the most distinguished gather
ings that have assembled about banquet
table in Washington in many years was
the party that gathered at Chamberlain's
on Wednesday evening last, as guests OF
Mr.. William Walter Phelps, in honor of
Mr.. Hiscock's election to the United
States Senate. Among those present were
Mr.. West, the British Minister Speaker
Carlisle, Senator Sherman, Secretary La
mar, .Murat Halstead OF the Cincinnati
Commercial Gazette; Senator Evarts, eX-
Senator Platt, Representative Morrison,
Senator Sewell, Hon. Levi P. Morton,
Henry Watterson Of the Louisville Cour-
Ter journal, Chauucey NJ. DeDue, Secre-
tary Whitney, General Sheridan, Justice
Blatchford, Representatives Reid, Ran
dali, Astor and Mckinley, and Whitelaw
Reid of the New York Tribune. The
table decorations were elegant. a huge
bouquet Of Jscquinot roses rested in the
center of the table. Four candlesticks,
each bearing five wax candles, served to
light the festive board. No speeches were
made, and the affair was almost informal
IN its nature.
The Senate devoted much of it's time
during the past week to the discussion of
Senator Beck's bill prohibiting Senators
and members of Congress from receiving
fees from railroad companies during their
terms of office. During the discussion.
which was participated in by nearly all OF
the Senator'S, some of the ablest speeches
of the session were made, and the bill
was passed or Friday evening by vote
of SO to Il.
An excursion party from Northern and
Central New YORK, numbering upwards OF
1000 persons arrived in thecity on Thurs
day, and spent the TWO or three days OF
their stay ia visiting the various points OF
interest.